Hola, how's your July? Finally it's weekend :) It is a great week for me because my parents came to visit me and I received the 4X Intensive Whitening Serum and Double Whitening Day

Cream!!! Hooray because it's very important for girls to be fair in Asia. Here, we all believe fairer skin is a passport to better service, job opportunities and better treatment (一白遮三丑）。

Bio-essence introduces its new and improved Tanaka White range, specially formulated to better address dark spots and uneven skin tone with a reinvented 4XIntensive White Serum containing alpha-Arbutin that is 9X more powerful – so powerful, skin whitening has never been more flawless and effective.

Bio-essence first launched its Tanaka White series in 2008 as a basic whitening range to combat

initial signs of ageing like dull complexion and to prevent the occurrence of dark and age spots to

maintain skin’s fairness. Since its launch, Bio-essence has constantly been improving its formula, incorporating new advanced technologies and findings to continuously be on-trend and meet today’s skincareneeds. My mother is always a supporter for Bio essence, and I also use her moisturizer and sun block since I was in Secondary School :) It is a popular brand because you could find it anywhere in the market.

In 2014, the new Bio-essence Tanaka White 4X Intensive White Serum is improved and specially formulated with premium alpha-Arbutin that is 9X more powerful than beta-Arbutin, which is typically found in many other whitening products in the market. Arbutin, extracted from bearberry plants and helps to brighten dull and yellowish skin, is a great natural whitening agent that is known for eliminating pigmentation and improving overall skin complexion.

The name "bearberry" for the plant derives from the edible fruit which is a favorite food of bears. The fruit, also called bearberries, are edible and are sometimes gathered for food. The leaves of the plant are used in herbal medicine.
Sources: Wikipedia

It also helps maintainskin’s fairness by preventing the formation of melanin (primary determinant of skin color) and protects skin against harmful UV rays which we have to deal with it 365 days in Singapore :[

Apart from that, Bio-essence laboratories have uncovered the two main reasons behind dark spots formation, freckles and age spots. External factors such as frequent exposure to the sun and harsh elements cause skin to be dry and dull, which increases melanin activity in the skin, thus leading to the formation of dark spots and freckles. Then there is also the internal problem of existing pigments and spots that are embedded deep within the skin that cannot be treated and prevented with any amount of sunblock especially when you are getting older and did not take good care of your skin.

Of course if you have no idea what is Tanaka:

Tanaka (also known as Thanakha) has a rich history in Myanmar. It is a traditional whitening secret adored by females in Myanmar for more than 2000 years. It is used in daily life, as well as in ceremonies where face paintings bear cultural significance of nobility and purity. Children or young girls will imprint whimsical Tanaka designs on their cheeks using shapes like leaf or heart-shaped, little whirls, rounds or shell as a form of facial art.

The Tree: Tanaka is a perennial tree that grows in the lush forests of central Myanmar. It is slow growing and must be at least 35 years old to be mature enough to yield premium Tanaka. The cultural and practical practice of applying Tanaka on the skin is so deeply rooted in Myanmar that it stood the test of time through thousands of years. It is most widely used to cool and refresh the skin while protecting it from the sun the natural way. My colleague who came from Myanmar also recommend Tanaka for me when she saw my acne scars everyday :) But I'm not daring to wear that out in Singapore.

Sources: Wikipedia

Its uses: Tanaka means both "cosmetic for beautifying the face" and "cleansing agent". It is

recognized as a great aid to help withstand the heat of the sun and is thus an ideal cosmetic for those

who have to work under direct sunlight. Women who work outdoor apply thick layers of Tanaka as

a sunscreen to prevent sun-burn while its natural cooling properties help them tolerate the intense

heat during the day.

The traditional production of Tanaka: A simple procedure where the bark and roots are stripped,

soaked in water, grounded and pulverized using a mortar and a flat stone into a fragrant paste,

which has not changed for centuries. The light yellow paste with a mild fragrance is then applied to

the face.

Bio-essence Tanaka White 4X Intensive White Serum - $45.80 / 30ml

Tanaka White 4X Intensive White Serum is specially blended with traditional and great ingredient such as 4 of the greatest whitening ingredient apha-arbutin, Tanaka Extract, Kojic Acid and Tranexamic Acide. It will give you a luminous, fairer and more radient skin in just 4 days to see the visible effect.

Apply twice a day after cleansing. Spread a sufficient amount of the serum evenly onto entire face. Then, apply another layer over areas with dark spots & freckles. Use after Bio-essence Royal Jelly + ATP Deep Exfoliating Gel for best results.

It contains rich nutrients that are effectively absorbed into the deep layers of the skin, aids in cell renewal and moisturizes skin during sleep. Enriched with Tanaka Extract and Tranexamic Acid to help whiten skin, improve skin radiance and fade dark spots to restore a fairer and suppler complexion.

See how my face transformed? It is fully moisturises and no more redness after the application :) totally love it. And it's brighter and my skin is softer. it is not greasy and I feel it's very fast well absorbed by my skin. My skin type is combination and more to oily. So I can't use too oily or strong skin care products on my skin because it is too sensitive :[

However, both the serum and moisturizer is equally mild and effective :) Love the brightening effect :]